Library & Archives

RDS Library & Archives Research Bursary

In 2017 the RDS Library & Archives is engaged in a research project focusing on the RDS Science Archive to examine the work of the RDS in the application of new science and technology discoveries and techniques in Ireland. Following receipt of expressions of interest in January 2017 the RDS Library & Archives Bursary judging panel awarded the reserach bursary of €10,000 to Dr Adrian Kirwan, NUI Maynooth.

Dr Adrian Kirwan will present his research paper at the Annual Conference of the History of Science, Technology and Medicine Network Ireland, being held in association with the RDS Library and Archives. The conference will be held in the RDS Library on 13 & 14 October 2017.

If you wish to attend the conference dinner on Friday 13th October please complete a separate online booking form.

RDS Science Archive

The RDS Committees of Natural Philosophy, Chemistry and Botany (now the RDS Committee of Science and Technology) were founded in the early 19th century.

In 1899 the RDS awarded its first Boyle Medal to physicist and RDS Member George Johnstone Stoney. Other Boyle Laureates include: Thomas Preston, John Joly, Henry H. Dixon, Phyllis Clinch, Patrick J. Nolan and John L. Synge.

The Radium Institute was founded in 1914 at the RDS at the suggestion of John Joly. Joly provided the radium bromide used by Dr Walter Clegg Stevenson to successfully treat a case of skin cancer at Dr Steeven’s Hospital Dublin. This became known as the Dublin Method.

The RDS Science Archive includes:

The minute books and correspondence of the RDS Committee of Science in its various guises from 1817-2002.

The RDS Library & Archives sought expressions of interest from postgraduate researchers to complete a research study on a topic of interest within the RDS Science Archive. As part of the bursary the recipient must complete a research paper for presentation at a conference on the history of science in Ireland to be held at the RDS in 2017. The research paper must also be submitted for publication in an appropriate academic journal.

Closing date for applications for 2017 has now passed.

In 2016 the Research Bursary was awarded to Dr Míchéal Ó Fáthartaigh to carry out research on the RDS Agriculture Archive. His research was presented at Remarkable Transformations: Reassessing the history of agriculture in Ireland, a one day conference organized by the RDS Library & Archives. The conference programme and video recordings of the presentations are available online.